Vietnam to restructure public education network

The Vietnamese government has initiated a major restructuring of the public education network, including preschool, general, and vocational institutions. Following a directive signed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the policy aims to reorganize schools based on population density and educational needs rather than simply reducing the number of institutions through mechanical subtraction.

The goal is to streamline the system by reducing the number of public educational entities by approximately 30% to 46.73% compared to July 2025. This reorganization is intended to optimize the use of facilities, teaching staff, and investment resources while improving administrative efficiency.

Thai Van Tai, Director of the General Education Department at the Ministry of Education and Training, emphasized that the deadline of August 30, 2026, marks the completion of the organizational arrangement but not the end of the reform process. He stressed that the primary focus must remain on the learners, ensuring that restructuring does not create geographical barriers, increase costs, or diminish educational opportunities and quality.